Stob Ban
27 June 2007
Dave and Joyce, from Pennsylvania, USA, visit Scotland every year for
their vacation and this year they were staying in the Fort William
area. For the past four years they had requested that I arrange to
take them up a Munro. Unfortunately on all the previous visits they
had bad weather.
I had decided on Carn Mor Dearg or Stob Ban in the Mamores as both
have good views, in particular Carn Mor Dearg which looks onto the
North Face of Ben Nevis, the best side of our highest mountain. I
had hoped for good weather but the forecast indicated snow showers and
that the weather would deteriorate later in the day. In the morning
when I looked at the mountains Carn Mor Dearg was covered in cloud
drifting off Ben Nevis so Stob Ban it was.
We drove up Glen Nevis to the Pay and Display Car just east of
Achriabhach. Payment is voluntary but the monies raised go to
maintenance of the area. From this car park we walked up the path on
the east side of the Allt Coire a'Mhusgain. Initially the weather
was in our favour with some sunny spells and with views down Glen
Nevis and across to the lower slopes of Ben Nevis.
As we gained height the cloud was building up to the west and on
reaching the bealach at the head of the corrie it started to sleet.
However from the bealach we did manage some quick views across to the
Glencoe mountains and the south end of Loch Linnhe. The east ridge
of Stob Ban was ascended. Initially the path passed through some
grassy terrain before the path steepened and crossed some rock and
scree which was a new experience for my American clients.
The snow showers were brief but the summit was cloud covered as we
reached the cairn. However we stayed at the cairn for a bit of lunch
hoping that the cloud would clear but despite some brief glimpses it
didn't happen. We were back at the bealach before the cloud cleared
the summit of Stob Ban. We also had more views of the Glencoe
mountains before following the path used on the upward route back to
the start.
Although it wasn't a fine sunny day as I had hoped at least on this
occasion Dave and Joyce at least had some views and the weather for
Scotland wasn't too bad.
Time taken - 8 hours.
Distance - 10.5 kilometres.
Height climbed - 945 metres.
Photographs taken on walk can be seen at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/gallery07/stob_ban_june07/index.htm
Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com